Wendy Davis expects to stay in politics

In this Jan. 9, 2014 file photo, Texas Sen. Wendy Davis speaks at an education roundtable meeting in Arlington, Texas. Davis, who has said she would support expanding gun rights, now says that includes allowing concealed handgun license holders to openly carry their weapons in public. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

Photo: LM Otero, STF

AUSTIN - Texas hasn't seen the last of Sen. Wendy Davis, who said Monday that she can't imagine leaving the public arena even after her loss in the governor's race.

Democrat Davis said in her first sit-down interview since the election that she "probably" will be a candidate again for an unspecified office.

Undaunted by those who wrote her off politically after her trouncing by Republican Greg Abbott, Davis put a good face on assessing her ill-fated campaign and Battleground Texas, which served as her field operation.

Davis pushed back at the idea that the November election was a setback for Texas Democrats, pointing to bright spots including her hefty fundraising and volunteer force. But she added that she wants to learn from things that could've been done differently.

The lawmaker catapulted to national prominence because of a well-publicized filibuster against tighter abortion restrictions. She has now accepted invitations to speak at Planned Parenthood events around the country.

Davis, of Fort Worth, said she doesn't know what office she might run for in the future, but that she will probably make a race.

"I love being in public service too much - not because I crave a title, not at all. It's the work that I crave, and that I am passionate about," she said. "I can't imagine at least right now - ask me again a year from now, maybe I'll give you a different answer - but I can't imagine completely leaving the arena. It's who I am."

In an exclusive interview, she reflected on the campaign and pointed to one thing she would change. Davis that she wishes she had a do-over on her campaign decision to support open carry of handguns. Her position put her at odds with her party and alarmed a number of supporters. She said Monday that she opposes open carry.

"What I do know is that as an elected public servant, I've always been true to my core beliefs. Always. And I'm so proud of that," she said. "And this was the only time I felt like I'd strayed a bit from that."

Decision made quickly

Davis stressed that her support for open carry during the campaign was qualified, since she had said entities including municipalities should make their own decisions on carrying guns.

She also pointed to her support on the Fort Worth City Council of background checks at gun shows, and her opposition as a senator to allowing guns on college campuses.

"Though I certainly support people's right to own and to bear arms in appropriate situations, I fear with open carry, having watched that issue unfold during the campaign, that it will be used to intimidate and cause fear," she said Monday.

She said her decision to support open carry had been made quickly "with a very short conversation with my team, and it wasn't really in keeping with what I think is the correct position on that issue."

Her fresh remarks come as the Texas Legislature is poised to consider the open-carry issue in the session that begins in January. Abbott has said he'll sign an open-carry bill into law if one comes to his desk

Under current Texas law, people can get a license to carry a concealed handgun and they can carry rifles openly if it's not done in a threatening way.

Davis didn't blame anyone else for the decision, praising her team despite a staff shakeup during the campaign. "I can only regret my own actions, obviously. I admire all of the people that worked with me, even the ones that didn't last throughout the campaign," she said.

Davis said she is proud of her emphasis on issues including education during the campaign.

Asked about her unrelenting negative advertising in the lead up to the general election, Davis said, "What I wish had been the case was that we had enough money to do both (positive and negative ads), and I do think it's the case that we didn't help people in the state who don't know me understand really what it is that I had to offer as their future governor.

Nothing's ruled out

"I don't want to live in regret, but I want to live having learned, and that's something that I'll certainly reflect upon if I run again, whether that approach is the right approach," she said.

She didn't rule out anything from another race for governor to trying to regain her state Senate seat, which was won by Republican Konni Burton after Davis ran for governor instead of aiming for re-election.

Davis said, however, that she can't imagine running against the high-profile Democratic Castro brothers - U.S. Rep. Joaquín and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián - both of whom have long been talked up as potential statewide candidates.

"I would support them. I think they're wonderful," she said.

In the coming months, Davis said, she will be on the speaking circuit with engagements including Planned Parenthood events.

"I'm still working to figure out how I'll stay in the conversation, but I'm going to," she said.

Peggy Fikac is Austin bureau chief and columnist for the San Antonio Express-News, delving into politics and policy in areas including the state budget, where the intersection of the two is compelling.

She covers Gov. Greg Abbott, who won the state’s top seat after a nationally noticed campaign against Wendy Davis; dug into Ted Cruz’s ascent to the U.S. Senate; covered George W. Bush as governor and during his races for president; and has bird-dogged Rick Perry’s tenure as Texas’ longest-serving governor, his White House ambitions and his indictment.

Peggy was bureau chief for the Houston Chronicle as well as the Express-News for more than five years when the two combined their Austin operations.

She previously worked for the Associated Press, where she covered the late Ann Richards during both of her campaigns for governor and specialized in public education and legislative coverage. Peggy also has been the correspondent for three Rio Grande Valley newspapers, starting as a senior at her alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin.